Self-valving sucker assembly



Feb. 25, 1964 c. w. DIDDE ETAL SELF-VALVING SUCKER ASSEMBLY Filed March 28, 1960 United States Patent M 3,122,391 SELF-VALVING SUCKER AEMBLY Carl W. Didd e, Donaid A. Glaser, and Harry E.

Higgins, :2, Emporia, Karts, assignors to Didde- Glaser, inc, Emporia, Karts, a corporation of Kansas Filed Mar. 28, 196i Ser. No. 17,354 4 Claims. (Cl. 294-64) per have long been provided in printing and other similar types of machines, the provision of suction units for ifting the paper and either maintaining the same in a predetermined position or shifting the sheet to another location, has created serious problems because of the fact that the printing apparatus normally is capable of being operated to handle various sizes of paper and thus the suction lifting means must be capable of performing the sheet lifting function thereof, regardless of the size of the paper and without wasting of vacuum. It has previously been the most common expedient to use sucker units coupled to the source of vacuum through corresponding flexible tubes, but this has not been entirely satisfactory because of the necessity of adjusting the disposition of the outer parts of the suction units, as well as necessitating time consuming adjustments of the pickup components to assure proper lifting of the sheets of paper upon connection of a vacuum unit to the pickup members. The heretofore utilized pickup components also were relatively expensive, required frequent maintenance and a number of additional parts for maintaining the sucker assemblies in predetermined disposition, notwithstanding the fiexible nature of the conduit connecting the pickup components to the source of vacuum.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved suction pickup unit for printing machines or the like which is relatively inexpensive and negatives the necessity of frequently adjusting the pickup units to maintain the same in proper positions.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a suction pickup unit as described, having a selfcontained valve whereby when the pickup tube is in the normal operable position thereof, the pickup tube is antomatically in communication with the source of vacuum whereas, when the pickup component is shifted to another position thereof, the tubular component engageable with the sheet of paper is cut off from the source of vacuum by virtue of closing of a valve arrangement within the suction pickup unit.

Also an important object of the invention is to provide a suction pickup unit which may be utilized for sheets of paper of different sizes and constructed so that when smaller papers are subjected to the printing or other similar operation, the outer pickup components which are not needed, may be readily moved to an out-ofthe-way location with the vacuum thereto being automatically caused to cease and with means being provided for maintaining such suction units in a closed condition.

A still further aim of the invention is to provide a suction pickup unit including a main vacuum supply line having a plurality of pickup components rotatably mounted thereon and each including structure for preventing movement of the pickup components longitudinally of the supply line while, at the same time, permitting rotation of the pickup components about the sup- 3,122,391 Patented Feb. 25, 1964 ply line and either maintaining each pickup component in its open or closed position through novel releasable mechanism.

A further important aim of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive, easily manufactured pickup assembly which presents a neat appearance, may readily be repaired when required, and completely eliminates the utilization of flexible hoses or vacuum conduits as has heretofore been required.

Other important objects and details of construction of the present suction pickup unit will become obvious or be explained in greater detail as the following specification progresses.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a suction pickup unit embodying the preferred concepts of the present invention, with certain parts thereof being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction of the same; in this view, the pickup component is shown in its downwardly extending normal position of operation;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the pickup unit as illustrated in FIG. 1, with the supply conduit thereof being illustrated in section;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 1 with the exception that the pickup component extends upwardly in its normally inoperative position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the unit as illustrated in FIG. 3;

PEG. 5 is a vertical, central cross-sectional View of the unit in the position thereof as shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view the same as FIG. 4 with the exception that certain of the parts are broken away to reveal details of the same.

Suction pickup apparatus broadly numerated it} in the drawing preferably comprises a main vacuum supply line 12 which is normally positioned horizontally and mounts a plurality of pickup components 14 thereon in horizontally spaced relationship and each rotatable about the axisof line 12. Since all of the pickup components 14 are identical in construction, only one of the same has been illustrated and thus will be described in detail.

Pickup component 14 includes a main body member 16 of greater width than thickness and provided with a bore 18 therethrough of a size to complementally receive line 12, as best shown in FIG. 5, whereby member 16 may be rotated about the axis of line 12 with the inner cylindrical surface of body 16 defining bore 18 relatively tightly engaging the outer proximal surface of line 12.

Body member 16 is also provided with an elongated passage 2 therein communicating at opposed ends thereof with the interior of bore 18 as well as the opposed exterior of member 16. Passage 24 is drilled into body 16 through the face 22 thereof, while another cross passage 24 is drilled into the face 26 of member 16 and extends inwardly into intersecting and thereby communicating relationship with passage 20. The outermost end of passage 24; adjacent face 22 is normally closed by setscrew 28 complementally threaded into the outer extremity of passage 20.

The outer segment of passage 24- adjacent face 26 is of slightly greater diameter than the inner part of passage 24 to receive a coil spring 3% which projects outwardly from passage 24 beyond face 26. An elongated tube 32 frictionally disposed within passage 24 and provided with an opening 34 therein in direct alignment with the part of passage 20 leading to line 12, also extends outwardly from face 26 and is telescoped within one end of a tubular pickup cylinder 36 having an elongated passage 38 therethrough of irregular diameter. A resilient sleeve 41} telescoped within the end of cylinder 36 proximal to face 26 of member 16 surrounds the outer end of tube 32 in complemental engagement therewith to permit cylinder 36 to move to a limited extent relative to tube 32.

Line 12 is provided with an opening 42 therein for each of the pickup components 14, and disposed to be in alignment with passage 21} of a respective body member 16 when cylinder 36 is extending downwardly, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5.

Means for restricting movement of pickup component 14 to a substantially 180 arc and also for maintaining member 16 in one of two predetermined locations, includes a pair of identical, generally U-shaped elements 44 having an outer circular edge 46 complemental with the circular surface of member 16. As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3, member 16 has a pair of parallel, flat, opposed faces 59 and elements 44 are positioned with the inner surfaces thereof in flat sliding engagement with respective faces 59 of member 16. Line 12 is provided with a pair of directly opposed, spot-drilled recesses $2 for each of the elements 44 and adapted to receive inwardly extending lugs 54 integral with the inner margin of a respective element 44. Additional stabilizing means for elements 44 includes inwardly bent tabs 56 at one extremity of each element 44 and adapted to overlie a proximal part of member 16 and preferably, the zone of juncture of surface 48 with the normally upper face 58 of member 16 and which presents a shoulder ea against which the tabs 55 hear. The zone of juncture of face 26 with curved surface 4% also presents a shoulder 61 which is disposed to be engaged by tabs 56 during rotation of member 16 and cylinder 36.

Body member 16 is also provided with a transversely extending bore 62 therethrough and disposed in parallelism with the axis of bore 18 below passage 2% and spaced inwardly from passage 24. Spring biased ball assembly 64 positioned within bore 62 includes a centrally disposed coil spring 66 which is of greater length than bore 62 when in a completely expanded condition, whereby balls 68 at each end of spring 66 are biased outwardly from opposed outlets of bore '62.

Each of the elements 44 has a pair of openings 70 therein adjacent the extremities of corresponding elements 44 and lying on the path of arcuate travel of respective balls 68 as pickup component 14 is rotated about the axis of line 12. It is to be noted that openings 74} are of smaller diameter than balls 68 whereby only the outer part of the latter are received within a corresponding opening 70, depending upon the position of pickup component 14 relative to line 12. It is to be preferred that openings 70 be disposed so that cylinder 36 is projecting downwardly in a vertical position when balls 68 are in one opening 71 while the cylinder 36 is projecting upwardly in a vertical position when the balls 68 are in the other opening 70.

During utilization of apparatus 10, and assuming that pickup components 14 are all in positions as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, it can be seen that passage and thereby tube 32 are out of communication with line 12, since opening 42 is out of alignment with the innermost end of passage 20. The cylinder 36 as well as body member 16 are maintained in the position illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 by virtue of the fact that balls 68 are within a respective opening '70.

When it is desired to shift pickup components 14 to a position whereby passage 3b in cylinder 36 is in intercommunication with line 12, it is but necessary to rotate one or more pickup components 14 about line 12 until balls 68 engage the other openings '70 in elements 4-4, whereby opening 42 in line 12 is in intercornmunication with passage 20 and thus causing air to be drawn into the lowermost open inlet of passage 38.

Rotation of body member 16 and thereby cylinder 36 is restricted to an arc of approximately 180 by virtue of engagement of tabs 56 with either shoulder 64 or 6'1.

It can now be perceived that the instant apparatus provides pickup components which utilize a single vacuum manifold and which permits any number of sheet lifting units to be employed as necessary for the width of paper being passed through the machine. A minimum of time is required to shift the different pickup components 14 either into open or closed positions, and the overall appearance of the machine is improved by eliminating hoses and the like as in prior mechanisms. Furthermore, the pickup components 14 are either maintained in the upright or downwardly extending locations thereof by virtue of the positive releasable stop means, including assembly 64 and elements 44-, so that the operator of the machine is assured that apparatus 10 is functioning as desired at all times.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A suction pickup unit comprising a vacuum line having an opening therein; a member provided with a pair of opposed faces and rotatably mounted on said line in surrounding relationship thereto and provided with a passage therethrough extending from said line to the exterior or" the member, said member being rotatable from one position with said passage in alignment with said opening in the line to other positions with said passage out of alignment with the opening; a tubular sucker mounted on said member extending away from the latter and provided with a bore therethrough communicating with said passage; stop means on said line in juxtaposition to said member on opposed sides of the latter for preventing movement of the member longitudinally of said line, said stop means having recess means therein and provided with a pair of set iicircular elements having inwardly extending lugs at each extremity thereof, said line having a pair of indentations adjacent each of the opposed faces of the member perpendicular to the axis of said line and disposed to receive corresponding lugs on elements to maintain the latter in substantiaily flush, sliding engagement with respective faces of the member; and resilient means carried by said member for rotation therewith receivable within the recess means of said stop means and movable away from said recess means as said member is rotated in one direction for limiting the rotation of said member to a predetermined arc.

2. A unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member is provided with a bore extending therein from one of said faces of the same and parallel With the axis of said line, said resilient means including a spring ball assembly positioned in said bore With the spring biasing said ball toward the exterior of said face of the member, one element of said stop means being secured to the line in overlying relationship to said one face of the member and thereby over the outlet or" said bore, said recess means including a ball opening in said one element of smaller diameter than the ball and disposed to receive the outer part of the ball when the member is in one position relative to the line and said one element to reieasably maintain the member in said one position thereof.

3. A unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said elements is provided with a pair of ball openings therein disposed in spaced relationship and lying on the are described by said ball reiative to the element during rotation of the member to thereby releasabiy maintain the member in either or" two positions determined by the location of said ball openings.

4. A unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member is provided with a bore extending through the entire width of the same in parallelism with the axis of said line, a spring ball assembly positioned on said bore including a spring of normally greater length when expanded than the length of the bore, disposed centrally of the bore and a ball at each end of the spring, and a pair of elements secured to the line in overlying relationship to respective opposed faces of the member and thereby corresponding outlets of the bore, each of said elements having a ball opening therein of smaller diameter than a proximal ball and disposed to receive the outer part of a respective ball when the member is in one position thereof relative to the line and said element to releasably maintain the member in said one position thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Hughes et a1 July 5, 1921 Stockholder July 26, 1921 Watkins Jan. 10, 1928 Spiess May 1, 1928 Rober Apr. 30, 1940 Jirousek June 11, 1940 Miller Apr. 21, 1942 Meriam Jan. 1, 1952 Gulick May 21, 1957 Young Sept. 29, 1959 Buttner Dec. 6, 1960 

1. A SUCTION PICKUP UNIT COMPRISING A VACUUM LINE HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN; A MEMBER PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF OPPOSED FACES AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID LINE IN SURROUNDING RELATIONSHIP THERETO AND PROVIDED WITH A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH EXTENDING FROM SAID LINE TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE MEMBER, SAID MEMBER BEING ROTATABLE FROM ONE POSITION WITH SAID PASSAGE IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID OPENING IN THE LINE TO OTHER POSITIONS WITH SAID PASSAGE OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH THE OPENING; A TUBULAR SUCKER MOUNTED ON SAID MEMBER EXTENDING AWAY FROM THE LATTER AND PROVIDED WITH A BORE THERETHROUGH COMMUNICATING WITH SAID PASSAGE; STOP MEANS ON SAID LINE IN JUXTAPOSITION TO SAID MEMBER ON OPPOSED SIDES OF THE LATTER FOR PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF THE MEMBER LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID LINE, SAID STOP MEANS HAVING RECESS MEANS THEREIN AND PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF SEMICIRCULAR ELEMENTS HAVING INWARDLY EXTENDING LUGS AT EACH EXTREMITY THEREOF, SAID LINE HAVING A PAIR OF INDENTATIONS ADJACENT EACH OF THE OPPOSED FACES OF THE MEMBER PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF SAID LINE AND DISPOSED TO RECEIVE CORRESPONDING LUGS ON ELEMENTS TO MAINTAIN THE LATTER IN SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH, SLIDING ENGAGEMENT WITH RESPECTIVE FACES OF THE MEMBER; AND RESILIENT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID MEMBER FOR ROTATION THEREWITH RECEIVABLE WITHIN THE RECESS MEANS OF SAID STOP MEANS AND MOVABLE AWAY FROM SAID RECESS MEANS AS SAID MEMBER IS ROTATED IN ONE DIRECTION FOR LIMITING THE ROTATION OF SAID MEMBER TO A PREDETERMINED ARC. 